A few years prior, Claira sipped on her tea alone. She was inside the imperial capital and the palace that towered over the rest of the city, where there was a heavily guarded area known as the central palace. That’s where her room could be found, and given the nature of her magic, she was rarely allowed to step outside it. She spent her days off lazing around her room, just as she was doing today.
“How boring,” she said with a sigh. “I’ve already finished all the books I ordered.”
Still, visiting the castle gardens would be quite laborious as well. She was only allowed to do so with multiple guards, and one had to be on the level of the Five Commanders. Summoning them would be exhausting, and she didn’t want her own personal whims to get in the way of their work. But more than anything, Claira’s nature didn’t allow her to forget her guards. She’d be too busy trying not to bother them to actually rest.
“What a waste of this beautiful weather,” she muttered, watching the scenery outside her window from between the metal bars. Marred with melancholy, she simply stared at the tea in her cup. That’s when suddenly, she heard a commotion from outside.
“Is something the matter?” she wondered, tilting her head and looking toward the door.
Bam! It flew open.
“I’m comin’ in.” There he was, with his white skin, sky-blue hair, and awfully thin clothes—Therion.
Nearby, Claira’s guards were in a state of panic. “S-Sir Therion? You may be a Hero, but even you can’t just...”
“Hah?!” he screamed, glaring back at them.
The guards quaked in their boots. Therion didn’t know much about them, but if they had been entrusted with guarding the second imperial princess, they had to be elites who ranked quite highly in the imperial army. However, even though they were so terrified of Therion, they looked ready to run, they did their best to push through their fear and carry out their duties.
Not that Therion cared. He kicked the nuisances aside, overpowering those who resisted with force. When it came to Claira, Therion paid no mind to appearances. “Hey, bastard! Talk back to me like that again and I’ll damn rip you a...”
“E-Eeek! M-My deepest apologies!” Unable to withstand Therion’s intimidations—which were on the cusp of madness—one of the soldiers abandoned his mission and dashed off. The other guards kept their mouths shut.
Therion entered the room, muttering, “Glad those dumbasses are gone,” under his breath. Then, he glanced around before locking eyes on Claira. “Jeez, it’s like a damn prison cell in here...”
“That’s not something to say about a lady’s room, Therion,” pouted Claira. After all, she was the one who had arranged the furniture in here. Naturally, the comment angered her.
“I’m not talking about the damn décor. Like hell a normal room would have metal bars on the window, much less a ‘lady’s room.’”
“W-Well, I suppose you’re right.”
Therion wasn’t wrong. This room had been constructed of tough materials, ones stronger than those used in the weapons and armor of top-class knights and adventurers, which was hardly befitting a room that belonged to a lady. Once Therion had pointed that out, she was in no position to argue back.
“Well, you’ve got your magic, so I guess this is just how things have gotta be, but...”
“This room is all that I can remember, so I don’t find it all that stressful. Though I suppose I can’t deny it is quite prisonlike,” she said with a grimace.
Her sad eyes elicited a sigh from Therion. “So? You’ve got nothin’ to do today, don’t you?”
“W-Well, I guess so.”
“Knew it.” Therion had come here knowing Claira was likely bored. Due to his rough attitude, the people were split as to whether he could truly be considered a Hero. Had Claira not been manipulating things in the empire from behind the scenes, he’d have long been stripped of that title.
However, everyone knew of his skills, and that none of the Five Commanders could rival them. Claira could have no more reliable guard than him.
“I bet you wanna go outside, yeah?”
“You really do know me so well,” said Claira, grinning from ear to ear.
Therion averted his eyes. “I just kinda had a feeling.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s nothin’! Let’s go!” shouted Therion, his embarrassment roughing up his words.
Claira giggled. “You’re so kind, Therion.”
Thus, they were off. Therion followed from behind, her cuteness on his mind.
✦ ✦ ✦
Therion and Claira walked through the castle, ignoring the numerous stares as they strolled their way to the courtyard. Of course, Claira was the second princess of this land, and all knew of her existence. However, the fact she typically couldn’t leave her room was equally common knowledge. To others, it seemed as if Therion were forcibly dragging her away.
Though given how holed up she typically was, none considered that a bad thing.
After arriving in the courtyard, the two sat on a bench and enjoyed the scenery. The nature here was manufactured, but it being a castle, it was naturally a near-perfect job. The gardens were quite huge, and thus didn’t feel cramped in the slightest.
“Honestly? This place is a world of difference from where I was born,” said Therion.
“Yes, I suppose you might be right. Your hometown is considered quite problematic even within imperial lands, after all.”
“It’s where all the damn dregs of the empire gather, after all. An effin’ garbage heap.”
“Y-You don’t have to say it like that,” said Claira, unable to keep herself from correcting him. Still, Therion’s home had quite a poor reputation within the empire, which was exactly why life here seemed so different to him.
“With all the money you’re spending, ya better go see it yourself. The forest goes on for damn near forever.” For Claira, this was her first outing in a long while, but Therion spent it complaining. Still, she was quite enjoying herself anyway.
His grumblings continued for a short while, until a question suddenly occurred to Claira. “That reminds me, you’re always dressed for the summer, Therion. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in warm clothes before.”
“Hah? I just ain’t good with the heat, given how my body is.”
“Then is that also why your skin’s so white?” In all honesty, Claira had pondered Therion’s secret to pearly white skin multiple times. It was beautiful, so much so she was jealous.
“Well, I keep indoors. I’m a night owl, y’know? The heat damn gets to me, and so does the damn sun.”
“Wow, I had no idea you had such a weakness!”
“Well, I ain’t gonna kick the bucket unless it’s some crazy-strong fire magic, so you don’t gotta worry. I’m more just ain’t a fan,” said Therion, firmly denying her words.
Still, Claira was happy to learn of his weaknesses. For a while, she enjoyed the scenery and basked in the sunlight. Therion didn’t look very comfortable, but he kept quiet regardless.
“Thank you so much for coming here today.”
“It’s nothin’! I just felt a little sorry for you,” said Therion, averting his gaze by looking up at the sky.
“You really are kind, huh?”
“Sure, whatever you say...”